KR101714517B1 - An apparatus for controlling devices in vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus for controlling devices linked to a vehicle linked to a steering wheel of a vehicle comprises a touch area comprising a plurality of touch sensors to transmit different input of a driver to devices linked to a vehicle, wherein the touch area is positioned on a rim of the steering wheel.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus for controlling an in-

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for controlling various devices in a vehicle and, more particularly, to an interface and a device for easily controlling a portable device or a smart device, .

The automotive industry is undergoing a HMI (Human Machine Interface) innovation in which the way drivers and passengers interact with their cars is constantly changing. Human Machine Interfaces (HMIs) can traditionally include multiple systems that allow drivers to interact with their vehicles. In recent vehicle designs, HMIs allow the transmission of diverse feedback from the vehicle's interior to the driver. This interaction starts from the moment the car door is opened and continues during driving and ends when the driver closes the car out of the car. These interactions include the optimal balance of the driver's sensory input to make driving experience safe and enjoyable.

The user (driver) and the human interaction (HVI) are also related to user safety. In order to increase the satisfaction of the user, the vehicle may include a lot of functions and various services, which may seriously affect the safety of the user while driving. Driver inattention can be one of the most important causes of traffic accidents. For example, it is known that a large part of accidents caused by carelessness related to vehicle accidents are caused by the neglect of forward gaze that occurs in the process of controlling and watching the dashboard such as navigation, audio, and the like. It is also known that mobile phones, voice mail systems, and navigation systems can distract the driver during operation. In order to overcome this problem, a device and a method for controlling a multimedia device and a portable device considering a driver's cognitive characteristics are needed.

KR 10-2010-0046186 A

The present invention can provide an apparatus and a method by which a driver can operate instruments associated with a vehicle through a touch sensor positioned on a steering wheel during driving.

In addition, the present invention enables a driver to set devices and operations that can be controlled through input through touch sensors in advance, and to change settings when necessary, thereby enhancing compatibility with devices connected to the vehicle Apparatus and method can be provided.

In addition, the present invention can provide an apparatus and a method for allowing a user to operate safely while driving by allowing the steering wheel cover for a vehicle including the touch sensors to operate the devices interlocked with the vehicle.

In addition, the present invention can provide an apparatus and a method that can safely protect a user (driver) by ignoring input through a touch sensor when the steering wheel rotates over a certain angle.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are not restrictive of the invention, unless further departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. It will be possible.

The control device of the device interlocked with the vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention is interlocked with a steering wheel of the vehicle and includes a plurality of touch sensors, And the touch region may be located on a rim of the steering wheel.

In addition, the touch region may be located in the left region and the right region of the rim, respectively.

The apparatus may further include a recognition unit that generates a control signal to be transmitted to the device when a plurality of touches are simultaneously present or when there is a drag.

The plurality of touches may include one of a trigger touch and a plurality of selection touches, and the trigger touch and the selection touch may be spaced apart from each other by a first interval.

In addition, the plurality of selection touches may be spaced apart from each other by a second interval smaller than the first interval.

The first spacing may be at least 3 cm, and the second spacing may be between 1 cm and 2.5 cm.

In addition, the position of the trigger touch is variable, and the attribute of the control signal may vary according to the distance or direction between the position of the trigger touch and the position of the selection touch.

In addition, the trigger touch may have a wider contact area than the selection touch.

In addition, a control device of a device that interacts with a vehicle includes a power supply unit that supplies power to the touch area; And a communication unit for transmitting an input through the touch area.

In addition, when the steering wheel rotates more than 90 degrees regardless of the direction, the input through the touch area can be ignored.

In addition, the control device of the device that interacts with the vehicle may further include a feedback unit that transmits feedback generated when the device operates in response to the different input.

In addition, the feedback can be delivered through at least one of voice, vibration, and display.

A steering wheel cover for a vehicle according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a touch area including a plurality of touch sensors and capable of transmitting different inputs of an operator to an apparatus interlocked with the vehicle; And a recognition unit for generating a control signal to be transmitted to the device when a plurality of touches are simultaneously present or there is a drag.

The plurality of touches may include one of a trigger touch and a plurality of selection touches, and the trigger touch and the selection touch may be spaced apart from each other by a first interval.

In addition, the position of the trigger touch is variable, and the attribute of the control signal may vary according to the distance or direction between the position of the trigger touch and the position of the selection touch.

The touch region may be located on a rim of a steering wheel and may be located in a left region and a right region of the rim, respectively.

The vehicle steering wheel cover may further include a power supply unit for supplying power to the touch area; And a communication unit for transmitting an input through the touch area.

Further, the steering wheel cover for a vehicle may further include a vibrating part capable of transmitting vibration corresponding to a feedback signal transmitted from the device through the communication part.

In addition, the control device of the device linked to the vehicle further includes a tilt sensor capable of measuring an inclined angle, and the tilt sensor detects that the steering wheel has rotated 90 degrees or more regardless of the direction In this case, the plurality of touches can be ignored.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of controlling an apparatus that interacts with a vehicle, the method including a plurality of touch sensors, wherein a plurality of touches are simultaneously present through a touch region located on a rim of a steering wheel Confirming whether there is a drag; Measuring an interval between the plurality of touches; Generating a control signal corresponding to the interval or the drag; And transmitting the control signal to a device associated with the vehicle.

In addition, the checking step may include checking whether a plurality of touched touches exist among the plurality of touches; And if there is the trigger touch, checking whether there is a selection touch.

In addition, the position of the trigger touch is variable, and the attribute of the control signal may vary according to the distance or direction between the position of the trigger touch and the position of the selection touch.

Also, in the control method of the device linked with the vehicle, when the steering wheel recognizes that the steering wheel has rotated by 90 degrees or more regardless of the direction through the tilt sensor capable of measuring the tilted angle, The method comprising the steps of:

In addition, the control method of the device operatively associated with the vehicle may further include transmitting feedback when the device performs the operation corresponding to the control signal.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. And can be understood and understood.

The effect of the device according to the present invention will be described as follows.

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for controlling a dashboard by controlling devices connected to a vehicle through a touch sensor positioned on a steering wheel of the vehicle, .

In addition, the present invention allows the driver to select the devices to be controlled through the touch sensor located on the steering wheel of the vehicle and to change the setting of the control signal for the input method according to the driver's habit, It is advantageous to increase the convenience of the user.

The effects obtainable by the present invention are not limited to the effects mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. It is to be understood, however, that the technical features of the present invention are not limited to the specific drawings, and the features disclosed in the drawings may be combined with each other to constitute a new embodiment.
Fig. 1 illustrates a control apparatus of an apparatus that is interlocked with a vehicle.
Fig. 2 illustrates the operation between the control device of the device interacting with the vehicle, the device mounted in the vehicle, and the portable device of the user.
3 illustrates the structure and the type of the steering wheel included in the vehicle.
Fig. 4 illustrates the relationship between the posture of the driver and the control device of the device interlocked with the vehicle during operation of the vehicle.
5 illustrates a steering wheel cover for a vehicle.
Fig. 6 illustrates a method of controlling a device operatively associated with a vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an apparatus and various methods to which embodiments of the present invention are applied will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The suffix "module" and " part "for the components used in the following description are given or mixed in consideration of ease of specification, and do not have their own meaning or role.

In the description of the embodiments, when it is described as being formed on the "upper" or "lower" of each element, the upper or lower (lower) And that at least one further component is formed and arranged between the two components. Also, the expression "upward" or "downward" may include not only an upward direction but also a downward direction with respect to one component.

Fig. 1 illustrates a control apparatus of an apparatus that is interlocked with a vehicle.

As shown in the figure, the control device 20 of the on-vehicle device may include a touch area 10 composed of a plurality of touch sensors 2_1, 2_2, 2_3, 2_4, 2_5, and 2_6. For example, the control device 20 of the on-vehicle device may be interlocked with the steering wheel of the vehicle, and the touch area 10 may be on the rim of the steering wheel.

Here, the touch region 10 is a region in which a plurality of touch sensors 2_1, 2_2, 2_3, 2_4, 2_5, and 2_6 are arranged, and the shape thereof may be changed according to the embodiment. For example, the touch area 10 may be a touch pad composed of a plurality of touch sensors 2_1, 2_2, 2_3, 2_4, 2_5 and 2_6, an accessory attached to a steering wheel of the vehicle, As shown in FIG.

The control device 20 of the on-vehicle device further includes a recognition section 12 for recognizing the input of a user (driver) through the touch region 10 and generating a control signal, And a power supply unit 16 for supplying power to the communication unit 14, the plurality of touch sensors 2_1, 2_2, 2_3, 2_4, 2_5 and 2_6, the recognition unit 12 and the communication unit 14 .

The recognition unit 12 can generate a control signal to be transmitted to a device in cooperation with the vehicle when a plurality of touches are simultaneously present in the touch region 10 or there is an input such as a drag.

The plurality of touches that can be transmitted through the touch area 10 may include one of a trigger touch and a plurality of selection touches. Here, the trigger touch may start the function of recognizing the touch information input through the touch area 10, and the selection touch may be inputted together with the trigger touch to determine the specific touch information. For example, assuming that the driver touches the touch area 10 with the thumb and touches the touch area 10 with the stop finger, the touch by the thumb can be the trigger touch, The touch can be a selection touch. Assuming that the driver touches the touch area 10 with his / her thumb and touches the touch area 10 with his / her fingers, the touch by the thumb can be a trigger touch, It can be a selection touch.

On the other hand, the touch information transmitted through the touch area 10 may cause a difference in the case of using the thumb and the stop finger and the case of using the thumb and the finger. For example, the distance between the position of the touch information using the stop finger and the position of the touch information input through the thumb may differ from each other.

The trigger touch may be a reference for inputting touch information in the touch area 10, and the selection touch may determine a touch information input about which control signal is to be transmitted. For example, the position of the trigger touch may be variable, and the attribute of the control signal may vary according to the distance or direction between the position of the trigger touch and the position of the selection touch.

To distinguish between the triggered touch and the selected touch, the triggered touch can be determined to be input with a wider contact area than the selected touch. Further, the trigger touch and the selected touch may be spaced apart from each other by a first interval, and the plurality of selected touches may be spaced apart from each other by a second interval that is smaller than the first interval. For example, the first spacing may be at least 3 cm and the second spacing may be between 1 cm and 2.5 cm. These values can be changed by the setting of the user (driver).

To explain the operation, it is assumed that two touches have occurred in the touch area 10. The recognition unit 12 can recognize the position where each touch occurs and the area of each touch.

Then, the recognition unit 12 confirms whether there is a trigger touch among two touches. The presence or absence of the trigger touch can be determined to be the trigger touch when the area is larger than the predetermined area through the area of each touch. For example, when the driver inputs the touch information through the finger, the thumb may have a larger touch area than the other fingers. Therefore, this difference can be used as a criterion for determining the trigger touch.

If the recognition unit 12 recognizes the trigger touch, the other touch can be regarded as a selection touch. The recognition unit 12 may generate a control signal corresponding to the interval between the two touches. When the number of types of control signals that can be output by the recognition unit 12 is larger, the recognition unit 12 can determine not only the distance between the two touches but also the direction.

For example, if the two touches are not spaced apart by a first interval between the trigger touch and the selection touch, the recognition unit 12 may determine that the trigger touch is not inputted and ignore the two pieces of touch information. Also, if the distance between the two touches is greater than the first distance, and there is no difference in the contact area or smaller than the predetermined area, it can be regarded that there is no trigger touch.

On the other hand, the control device 20 of the on-vehicle device may include a tilt sensor (not shown) capable of measuring the tilt angle. When recognizing that the steering wheel of the vehicle has rotated 90 degrees or more regardless of the direction through the tilt sensor, the recognition unit 12 ignores the touch information (touch input) transmitted through the touch area 10 .

The control apparatus 20 of the on-vehicle apparatus may further include a feedback unit 18 that receives feedback when an operation corresponding to the control signal is performed from the apparatus / apparatuses associated with the vehicle. At this time, the feedback may be transmitted through at least one of voice, vibration, and display. For example, if the driver tunes the music through the audio system mounted on the vehicle in response to the touch information input through the touch area 10, the vibration information for a predetermined size and time is transmitted through the feedback unit 18 So that the driver can recognize that the audio system is operating normally corresponding to the touch information inputted by the driver. In this process, the driver does not have to recognize the operation of the audio system through the eyes, thereby preventing distraction during driving, which can enhance safety.

Meanwhile, the feedback unit 19 may transmit the vibration according to the beat of the music output by the audio system in order to implement the HMI (Human Machine Interfaces). This feedback 19 can be perceived by the auditory and tactile sensations of the music without disturbing the driver ' s view.

Fig. 2 illustrates the operation between the control device of the device interacting with the vehicle, the device mounted in the vehicle, and the portable device of the user.

As shown, the vehicle 30 may be equipped with a variety of devices including an audio device 32, a radio device 34, and a navigation device 36. In addition, the vehicle 30 may be interlocked with the portable device 40 of the driver (user). The control device 20 of the on-vehicle device can perform a control operation in conjunction with not only various devices mounted on the vehicle 30 but also the portable device 40 interlocked with the vehicle 30. [

For example, by using the control device 20 of the on-vehicle device, it is possible to control the mirroring technology so that the service provided on the portable device or the operating system mounted on the vehicle (for example, Android Auto, Apple Carplay Etc.) can be controlled. The interface provided through the dashboard of the vehicle is limited or can distract the driver's attention, while the control device 20 of the vehicle device including the touch sensor allows the user to input various inputs such as a plurality of touches, Of the total.

Further, even if the vehicle does not have an audio device or the like, the control device 20 of the vehicle device can control the driver's portable device by interlocking the portable device (mobile phone, tablet, notebook, etc.) of the driver with the vehicle.

The user (driver) can control the control device 20 of the vehicle device to program or control the control device 20 of the vehicle device in order to use the control device 20 of the vehicle device to control the system, device, It can be set up using an application. The touch information (specifically, the area of the touch input, the distance between the plurality of touch inputs, etc.) input through the touch area 10 of the control device 20 of the on-vehicle device may vary depending on the user (driver). Accordingly, the user sets touch information that the user (driver) can input through a program or an application installed in an external device (for example, a mobile phone or the like) interlocked with the control device 20 of the vehicle device.

The touch information set by the user may vary depending on whether the touch information transmitted by the user through the fingers of the left hand and the right hand during travel is distinguished by the touch area, the distance between the touches, and the like.

After setting different touch input information in the control device 20 of the on-vehicle device, it is possible to set a device and a control signal corresponding to each touch input information. For example, it can be assumed that the touch information input through the control device 20 of the on-vehicle device is used to control the audio device. If the first touch information input by the user is two touches using the thumb and index finger of the right hand, the first touch information can be matched with the play button of the audio device. In addition, if the second touch information input by the user is two touches using the thumb and the stop finger of the right hand, the second touch information can be matched with the stop button of the audio device. Likewise, if the user uses the thumb and forefinger of the right hand, it can match the next button of the audio device. This method can be applied to matching the touch information input through the finger of the left hand with the control button (sound size control, etc.) of the audio device. In addition, even when the fingers of the right hand and the left hand are used, the control buttons of the audio apparatus can be matched.

The touch information that can be input by the user can be designated as necessary to control the devices and devices that are mounted on or interlocked with the vehicle. If the number of pieces of touch information that the user can input is smaller than the number of functions for controlling the apparatus and the apparatuses, the user may selectively match the functions that he / she likes.

Also, the user (driver) may make the touch information input through the control device 20 of the on-vehicle device cooperate with the hands-free device. If the user's mobile phone can be interlocked with the vehicle, the control device 20 of the on-vehicle device can match the touch information that can be distinguished to control functions such as dialing and hang-up.

When controlling the navigation through the control device 20 of the on-vehicle device, the navigation function can be controlled through the touch information input by the user (driver). Further, the control device 20 of the on-vehicle device can transmit feedback information transmitted from the navigation device to the user. If the warning message is transmitted in navigation, the control device 20 of the on-vehicle device can transmit a vibration to the user (driver) so that the user can quickly recognize the warning of the navigation.

The control device 20 of the on-vehicle device can receive touch information for selecting which device or device to be mounted on the vehicle or interlocking with the vehicle, through the touch area 10.

3 illustrates the structure and the type of the steering wheel included in the vehicle. Specifically, (a) shows a steering wheel mounted on a vehicle, and (b) and (c) illustrate structures of different steering wheels.

3 (b), the steering wheel includes a hub 54 connected to the steering shaft, a rim 52 which the user (driver) can hold and rotate to rotate the steering shaft, And may include a spoke 56 connecting the hub 54 and the rim 52.

The hub 54 includes a button for controlling the auto-cruise function, a radio, audio, buttons for controlling the air conditioner and the like, and includes an air bag for safety of the user (driver). The hub 54 may be made of a synthetic resin so as to reduce the injury of the driver in the event of a collision.

Also, the number of spokes 56 connecting the hub and the rim may vary depending on the shape. The steering wheel shown in FIG. 3 (b) includes four spokes 56, and the steering wheel shown in FIG. 3 (c) includes two spokes 56. Although not shown, the steering wheel may include three spokes.

Fig. 4 illustrates the relationship between the posture of the driver and the control device of the device interlocked with the vehicle during operation of the vehicle.

As shown, the driver (user) grasps the rim of the steering wheel to manipulate the steering wheel while driving. For stable steering wheel operation, it is common to use both hands to grip the left and right sides of the top, not the bottom of the rim.

The position of the two hands of the driver (user) during driving can be applied to the control device 20 of the vehicle device. The touch area 10 included in the control device 20 of the on-vehicle device can be positioned on the rim of the steering wheel, so that it is possible to prevent the disturbance of the driver (user) Can be controlled. To this end, the touch region 10 included in the control device 20 of the on-vehicle device can be positioned in the left region 72 and the right region 74 of the rim, respectively.

The driver (user) inputs the touch information to the control device 20 of the on-vehicle device by using his / her thumb while sequentially using the other finger (sensing / stop / ring finger) can do. Thus, the control device 20 of the on-vehicle device transmits information on the trigger touch using the thumb and the touch information on the other finger (detection / stop / ring finger) to the control device 20 of the on-vehicle device, And the interval (or direction) between each selection touch.

When the touch area 10 of the control device 20 of the vehicle is positioned on the rim of the steering wheel, it is possible to control which devices are controlled according to the touch information that the user (driver) can input through the touch area 10 The control device 20 of the on-vehicle device can provide an interface to a driver (user) while driving. In addition, the control device 20 of the on-vehicle device can generate control signals for functions other than the functions that can be controlled through the interfaces and buttons located on the dashboard. For example, in order to control an audio apparatus interlocked with a vehicle, a user (driver) can use a button for a play / pause function included in a dashboard of the vehicle, The function (for example, a shuffle function, etc.) may be controlled through the control device 20 of the on-vehicle device.

5 illustrates a steering wheel cover for a vehicle.

As shown, the control device of the on-vehicle device can be implemented in an accessory form such as a steering wheel cover for a vehicle. The steering wheel cover may include a touch area 72, 74 and a control area 100. The control region 100 may include at least one of a setting unit 80, a communication unit 82, a recognition unit 84, a power supply unit 86, a feedback unit 88, and a sensor unit 90.

The touch areas 72 and 74 may include touch sensors 78A for sensing user operation and a vibration device 78B for transmitting feedback to the user. Touch information is recognized in accordance with a criterion set by the driver (user) with respect to any point based on the grip point of the driver (user) through the touch sensors 78A included in the touch regions 72 and 74 . The user can input touch information using some fingers while holding the steering wheel while driving. The touch regions 72 and 74 on the left and right sides can receive touch information independently of each other. Further, according to the embodiment, the touch areas 72 and 74 may operate together to transmit the touch input of the user.

The recognition unit 84 determines whether the input touch information is a trigger touch or not, and identifies the touch information input by the user through the distance or direction between the selection touch and the trigger touch. The soft button is operated based on the center of the grip when the customer designates it.

 The touch regions 72 and 74 may include not only a plurality of touch sensors 78A but also a vibration unit 78B for transmitting feedback information transmitted through the feedback unit 88 and the like. The vibration portion 78B can be disposed at the touch regions 72 and 74 at regular intervals, and can transmit feedback information regardless of the position where the user (driver) holds the steering wheel while driving.

The sensor unit 90 may include a grip position determination sensor and an angle sensor. The grip position determination sensor is for determining the right / left hand position of the user (driver) and transmitting the feedback to the vibration unit 78B located at the position where the hand is located. By using the grip position determination sensor, feedback can be transmitted only to the left or right side of the steering wheel cover. In addition, when the angle sensor is used, the touch information transmitted to the recognition unit 84 through the touch areas 73 and 74 can be determined to be valid only when the steering wheel is not rotated 90 degrees to the left / right.

The communication unit 82 provides a connection with an external device (e.g., a smartphone of a driver) or a device mounted on the vehicle. The communication unit 82 may be Bluetooth, WiFi, NFC, ZigBee, Etc. can be used.

The setting unit 80 may set the touch input of the user through the external device and allow the user to map the touch input with the device to be controlled. The setting unit 80 can receive the content set by the user through the device connected through the communication unit 82.

The power supply unit 86 is for supplying power to the control area 100 and the touch areas 72 and 74. The power supply unit 86 may be powered by a battery or connected to a DC power source (such as a ciguegec) of the vehicle. Further, when the steering wheel cover is manufactured integrally with the vehicle, power can be supplied through the inside of the steering wheel.

The voice command microphone 76 is located between the touch areas 72 and 74 and can transmit voice commands of the user. Since the portable device (e.g., smart phone, tablet, etc.) that is interlocked with the vehicle can be operated through voice commands, a voice command microphone 76 is provided to the steering wheel May be included in the cover.

Fig. 6 illustrates a method of controlling a device operatively associated with a vehicle.

As shown in the figure, a method of controlling an apparatus in association with a vehicle includes a plurality of touch sensors, and a plurality of touches are simultaneously or dragged through a touch region located on a rim of a steering wheel of a vehicle A step 64 of measuring the distance between the plurality of touches, a step 66 of generating a control signal corresponding to the interval or the drag, and a step of transmitting the control signal to the device associated with the vehicle Step 68 may be included.

Specifically, step 62 of ascertaining may include verifying that there is a triggered touch among a plurality of taps, and, if there is a triggered touch, verifying that there is a selected touch. At this time, the position of the trigger touch may be variable, and the attribute of the control signal may vary depending on the distance or direction between the position of the selected touch and the position of the trigger touch. To this end, in the step 64 of measuring the spacing between the plurality of touches, the out-of-spacing direction information can be recognized.

Further, in the control method of the device linked with the vehicle, when it is recognized through the tilt sensor that the tilted angle can be measured that the steering wheel has rotated 90 degrees or more regardless of the direction, And ignoring the plurality of touches to be transmitted.

In addition, the control method of the device operatively associated with the vehicle may further include transmitting the feedback when the device mounted on the vehicle or the device interlocked with the vehicle performs an operation corresponding to the control signal.

A control device and method of a device that interacts with a vehicle may be effective in controlling a portable smart device of a driver (user). For example, when using the navigation function included in the smart device, the driver (user) can set a frequently-used destination key, or transmit a feedback signal according to a navigation guidance message or a warning message.

In addition, the control device and method of the device linked to the vehicle can control various functions (e.g., track up / down, shuffle on / off, play list entry, etc.) provided by the smart device, So that the driver can easily use the vehicle during driving. In addition, the control method of the device linked to the vehicle can support the driver (user) to call and manipulate the specific application provided by the smart device.

A device and a method for controlling a device linked to a vehicle can use a server speech recognition of a smart device such as a Google / Siri by using a voice recognition microphone, or can be used for calling or controlling a specific application. Also, the control device and method of the device linked to the vehicle can be used as a function to prevent drowsiness operation by determining the drowsy driving or the like when the driver loosens the grip using the grip position determination sensor value, and vibrate the grip . In addition, a control device and method of a device linked to a vehicle can also provide a safe driving guide so that the driver (user) can hold the steering wheel with both hands for safe driving even when driving with one hand.

A control device and method of a device linked to a vehicle provides a means for controlling a smart device (smart phone, tablet, etc.) of a driver (user) even in a vehicle not equipped with an option such as a vehicle multimedia system. In addition, the control device and method of the device linked to the vehicle can overcome the inconvenience and danger of the driver (user) while controlling the smart device while driving, and can call various applications or programs of the smart device, The extended control is possible. In other words, the convenience of the smart device can be greatly enhanced since the smart device can be adjusted as desired without going beyond the limit of controlling the smart device through the vehicle.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof.

Accordingly, the above description should not be construed in a limiting sense in all respects and should be considered illustrative. The scope of the present invention should be determined by rational interpretation of the appended claims, and all changes within the scope of equivalents of the present invention are included in the scope of the present invention.

10, 72, 74: touch area 12:
14: communication unit 16: power supply unit
18: Feedback section 20: Control device of vehicle device
30: vehicle 40: portable device
52: Rim 54: Hub
56: spoke 100: control area

Claims (24)

By interlocking with the steering wheel of the vehicle,
And a touch region including a plurality of touch sensors, the touch region being capable of transmitting different inputs of the driver to an apparatus interlocked with the vehicle,
Wherein the touch region is located on a rim of the steering wheel,
Wherein the touch sensor detects one of a trigger touch and a plurality of select touches through the touch region,
A control device of a device linked to a vehicle. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the touch region is located in a left region and a right region of the rim, respectively. The method according to claim 1,
Further comprising a recognition section for generating a control signal to be transmitted to the device when a plurality of touches including the trigger touch and the plurality of selection touches are simultaneously present or there is a drag, Control device of interlocking device. The method of claim 3,
Wherein the trigger touch and the selection touch are spaced apart from each other by a first interval. 5. The method of claim 4,
Wherein the plurality of selection touches are spaced apart from each other by a second interval smaller than the first interval. 6. The method of claim 5,
Wherein the first interval is 3 cm or more and the second interval is 1 cm to 2.5 cm. 5. The method of claim 4,
Wherein the position of the trigger touch is variable and the attribute of the control signal varies depending on a distance or a direction between the position of the trigger touch and the position of the selection touch. 5. The method of claim 4,
Wherein the trigger touch is in contact with the vehicle, the contact area of which is larger than that of the selection touch. The method according to claim 1,
A power supply unit for supplying power to the touch area; And
A communication unit for transmitting an input through the touch area;
Further comprising: a control unit for controlling the apparatus in association with the vehicle. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the input through the touch area is ignored when the steering wheel rotates by 90 degrees or more irrespective of the direction. The method according to claim 1,
Further comprising a feedback unit for transmitting feedback generated when the device operates in response to the different inputs. 12. The method of claim 11,
Wherein the feedback is transmitted via at least one of voice, vibration, and display. A touch area including a plurality of touch sensors, the touch area being capable of transmitting different inputs of a driver to an apparatus interlocked with the vehicle; And
And a recognition unit for generating a control signal to be transmitted to the device when a plurality of touches are simultaneously present or there is a drag,
Wherein the recognition unit senses one of a trigger touch and a plurality of selection touches through the touch region. 14. The method of claim 13,
Wherein the trigger touch and the selection touch are spaced apart from each other by a first interval. 15. The method of claim 14,
Wherein a position of the trigger touch is variable and an attribute of the control signal varies depending on a distance or a direction between a position of the trigger touch and a position of the select touch. 14. The method of claim 13,
Wherein the touch region is located on a rim of a steering wheel and is located in a left region and a right region of the rim, respectively. 14. The method of claim 13,
A power supply unit for supplying power to the touch area; And
A communication unit for transmitting an input through the touch area;
Further comprising a steering wheel cover for a vehicle. 18. The method of claim 17,
And a vibrating part capable of transmitting vibration corresponding to a feedback signal transmitted from the device through the communication part. 14. The method of claim 13,
The tilt sensor according to claim 1, further comprising a tilt sensor capable of measuring a tilt angle, wherein when the tilt sensor recognizes that the steering wheel has rotated 90 degrees or more regardless of the direction, Steering wheel cover. Confirming whether a plurality of touches are simultaneously or dragged through a touch area including a plurality of touch sensors and located on a rim of a steering wheel of a vehicle;
Measuring an interval between the plurality of touches;
Generating a control signal corresponding to the interval or the drag; And
And transmitting the control signal to a device associated with the vehicle,
The verifying step
Confirming whether there is a trigger touch among the plurality of touches; And
If there is the trigger touch, checking whether there is a selection touch
And a control device for controlling the device in association with the vehicle. delete 21. The method of claim 20,
Wherein the position of the trigger touch is variable and the attribute of the control signal changes according to a distance or a direction between the position of the trigger touch and the position of the selection touch. 21. The method of claim 20,
Further comprising the step of ignoring the plurality of touches when the steering wheel recognizes that the steering wheel has rotated 90 degrees or more regardless of the direction through a tilt sensor capable of measuring a tilted angle, Method of control of equipment. 21. The method of claim 20,
Further comprising transmitting feedback when the device performs an operation corresponding to the control signal.

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